Famous Brazilian Presidents

The 38th president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro started his career in the military, serving in the army's field artillery and parachutist units. He then overcame false accusations and first-degree conviction to become the president of Brazil. Over the years, Jair Bolsonaro has also received criticisms for voicing against homosexuality, secularism, abortion, and same-sex marriage.

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, was born into a working-class family and had to abandon his studies to work as a show-shiner and metalworker as a young boy. His fortune changed after he stepped into trade unionism. He later led the Worker’s Party of Brazil.

Michel Temer is a Brazilian politician who served as the 37th president of Brazil from 2016 to 2019. He assumed office following the impeachment of his predecessor Dilma Rousseff. Prior to that, he had been the vice president. A qualified lawyer, he has been active in politics since his college days. He was unpopular as the president. 

Brazilian economist and politician Dilma Rousseff served as the president of Brazil from 2011 to 2016, becoming the first Brazilian woman president. She has also served as former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Chief of Staff earlier and has been part of various energy-conservation groups.

Former president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek, popularly known as JK, is remembered as the primary force behind the construction of Brazil’s new capital, Brasilia. A physician, he worked in military hospitals, before he stepped into politics with the Social Democratic Party. He died in a car crash in Rio de Janeiro.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso is a Brazilian politician who served as the 34th president of Brazil from 1995 to 2002. Qualified as a sociologist, he pursued a successful academic career before joining politics. His tenure as the president brought about major advancements in institutional human rights. He also implemented multiple reforms to address poverty and inequality in the country. 

João Figueiredo was a Brazilian politician and military leader. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Brazil from 15 March 1979 to 14 March 1985. Brazil faced severe economic crisis during his term as president, which gave rise to the Diretas Já protests, a civil unrest movement demanding direct presidential elections in Brazil. 

Fernando Collor de Mello is a Brazilian politician best known for his service as the President of Brazil from 1990 to 1992. Collor was not only the first Brazilian president to be elected democratically after the end of the military dictatorship in Brazil, he was also the youngest president in the history of Brazil.

A leading figure of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, Itamar Franco served as Brazil’s 33rd president. He had also been Brazil’s ambassador to Italy, Portugal, and the Organization of American States, the mayor of Juiz de Fora, and the governor of Minas Gerais. A talented author, he also penned several short stories.

Ernesto Geisel was a Brazilian politician and military leader. He was active during the Brazilian military regime and is best remembered for his service as the President of Brazil from 15 March 1974 to 14 March 1979. Ernesto Geisel also served as the Chief Minister of the Military Cabinet on two occasions; in 1961 and again from 1964 to 1967.

José Sarney is a Brazilian politician and lawyer. He served as the 31st president of Brazil from 1985 to 1990. His tenure was fraught with problems like rampant inflation and corruption. He also faced multiple allegations of nepotism in his career. Two of his children are also politicians. One of Brazil’s foremost oligarchs, he owns multiple media organizations. 

The 1st president of Brazil, Deodoro da Fonseca led a coup that ousted Emperor Pedro II. Born to an army officer, he grew up to be an army officer and fought valiantly in campaigns such as the Paraguayan War. However, as a president, he proved to be ineffective and was later forced to resign.

The 13th president of Brazil, Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa had held numerous public offices in his hometown of São Paulo, such as those of the mayor, president, and senator of São Paulo. He lost all support after failing to improve Brazil’s economy amid the Great Depression in the US.

Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves was a Brazilian politician best remembered for his service as the President of Brazil from 1902 to 1906. During his term, Rodrigues Alves remodeled Rio de Janeiro, the then capital of Brazil. He was also elected as the president for a second term in 1918; however, he died on 16 January 1919 before taking office.